Rewiring Your Career: Why Mentorship Matters in the Next Chapter

Have you uncovered the impact of an unexpected mentor?

When are you planning to stop learning? I would bet my favorite pair of eyewear that your answer would be never! Many professionals reinvent themselves more than once in their working years. Whether it is within the same career or endeavoring something completely different, our interests and passions change, as well as our talents evolve.

From an early age, we encounter people who shape us in ways we may not even recognize at the time. Often associated with the early stages of a career when someone is new to a profession or workplace, the mentee seeks guidance from experienced experts. Later in life, however, mentorship often becomes more intentional. But mentorship isn't always formal. Think back to someone you may have admired as a child. At that time, you may not have understood the mentorship dynamic, but in fact, if their wisdom still influences you today, they were a mentor.

When did mentor and mentee become part of our career verbiage?

In the 1970’s mentoring started to materialize in professional and academic settings, particularly highlighted by the Harvard Business Review article "Everyone Who Makes It Has a Mentor.” Focused research on the role of mentorship and the impactful manner it affects career success helped popularize the idea in the U.S.

I’ve had some of the greatest mentors in the industry—many of whom pushed me forward with tough love rather than grace. Being blessed, it is my father who is my most treasured mentor. These relationships afforded me the confidence early in life to not be afraid to ask questions, explore opportunities and not be fearful of the word “no.” I have hundreds of examples that I can fondly recall, where wisdom derived from my dearest mentor.

When you discover a professional passion early in life, staying relevant requires continual reinvention. I was fortunate to find a career I loved. Four years into work, I had a realization as my friends were graduating from college, eager to embark on their own journeys. While I never questioned my chosen path, I knew I had to be intentional—whatever that truly meant at age 20—about shaping my future. Now, 46 years later, I remain proud of the career that has not only endured, but continues to inspire me.

Don’t Fear Seeking Out a Mentor At this stage in my career—what I call rewiring, not retiring—I’ve found a renewed hunger for being a mentee. If you’re not actively seeking mentorship later in your career, start now! It can be one of the most powerful and rewarding steps toward growth, reinvention, and lasting fulfillment.

Fast forward 45 years, and here I am, embracing the rewiring phase of my journey. The key? Pushing myself outside my comfort zone—because that’s where doors open and opportunities arise.

At first glance, it may seem like seasoned professionals should be the ones offering mentorship, not seeking it. But embracing the role of a mentee later in life can be an incredibly humbling and transformative experience. The professional world is constantly evolving, and no matter how much experience we accumulate, there is always more to learn.

How to Seek Mentors Later in Your Career

One of the greatest advantages of experience is knowing your strengths—and recognizing where you still have room to grow.

• Clarify Your Goals – Identify the skills or perspectives you need to hone, then seek out those who excel in those areas.
  

• Expand Your Network – The OWA is an incredible platform filled with talented professionals.  Whether they have served our industry for years or are brilliant minds that are newly joining the industry, seize the opportunity to leverage their expertise and learn from their experiences.
  

• Embrace Peer Mentorship – Learning isn’t just top-down. Exchange knowledge reciprocally with colleagues—everyone has something valuable to share.
  

• Stay Curious & Keep Learning – No matter how much experience you have, there’s always more to explore. Connecting with younger mentors is invaluable in so many ways.

Strength In Asking: How Do You Do It?

Being open to mentorship later in your career isn’t a sign of weakness; for me it has been one of the most rewarding roads I have traveled in years. 

I simply ask:  I have many women that I am in awe of and know that not engaging would be my only mistake. There are some gifts that have been received without asking. When someone reached out to me and asked “What is going on with you? I sense there is something beautiful and special you are creating, how can I help?” 

Acknowledge what skills you seek to sharpen, identify those who excel in them specifically, and don’t be afraid to ask. Engage, learn, and embrace the power of rewiring your career. You got this and just remember, rewiring and remodeling something built on a solid foundation is progress.

Interested in mentorship? The OWA offers a Full Circle Member Mentorship Program, designed to support professionals whether they are entering the field, navigating mid-career transitions, or reflecting on years of experience.

Written by Karen Michaelson